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The race to open an outlet mall in the Columbus area has a third contender that is considering a
project in New Albany.

However, experts continue to say the central Ohio market can support only one such shopping
center.

The New Albany Co. is seeking a zoning change for a 108-acre parcel of land at Smith’s Mill and
Beech roads for a possible outlet-mall project with Michigan-based Horizon Group Properties.

“There is a tremendous amount of interest in the Beech Road (and) Rt. 161 interchange, and we
are seeking the rezoning to keep options open as we continue to market the ground to a variety of
users, including a potential large employer that has expressed interest in the northeast quadrant,”
said Tom Rubey, development director of the New Albany Co., in a statement.

He would not say whether he was referring to Horizon, and Horizon officials did not return
repeated phone calls.

However, on the Horizon website, a map of new company developments shows a rendering of a New
Albany outlet center.

“Horizon has been working on this for the last four or five months,” said local developer Pat
Shively, who is involved in one of the other outlet mall proposals.

The location for the two other proposed outlet malls is at the I-71 and Rts. 36/37 interchange
in Delaware County.

California-based Craig Realty and Shively announced plans in December for a 350,000-square-foot
outlet center just south of the interchange. It would be part of the larger, mixed-use NorthGate
Centre Development that Shively has been working on for several years.

Indianapolis-based Simon Property Group and North Carolina-based Tanger Outlets announced plans
in late November for a 350,000-square-foot outlet center just off the busy interchange.

New Albany Co. made a presentation to the New Albany planning commission on Jan. 7 requesting a
zoning change to permit “a mixture of commercial uses including retail uses.”

The request applied to 92 acres of the site, and no decision was reached, as members tabled the
discussion until their next meeting.

“From our perspective, this is still a zoning issue, and there is no pending project in front of
us to consider,” said Scott McAfee, spokesman for the city of New Albany.

It is likely only one of the three proposed projects will be built, according to several people
who know the local market.

“There is only going to be one outlet mall in central Ohio, and the retailers will pick the one
they think has the best demographics and location,” Shively said.

The central Ohio market can support only about 400,000 square feet of outlet space, said Chris
Boring, principal of Boulevard Strategies, a Columbus-based retail-consulting firm.

“This doesn’t include people (coming) from outside the area,” he added.

The I-71 location is a plus, Boring said, as thousands of people drive by every day.

“Plus the Cabela’s is going in close to there and will draw a lot of people,” he said.

The outdoor retailer is scheduled to open March 4 at 1650 Gemini Place in the Polaris area.